2005 Nissan Xterra

Comments

Another issue is that if you have a high riding SUV on a separate truck frame, for models like the Xterra that have a similar ride height with 2X4 and 4X4, the 2X4 is more likely to flip over in a crash. This information stands out in government tests and insurance industry data using real crash results. Apparently, the couple of hundred extra pounds of a 4wd system on the very bottom of a truck has a real affect on a vehicle's center of gravity.

Now, I am not suggesting that someone buy a 4X4 only to reduce your chances of rolling, but if you do not need a 4X4, you really should be asking yourself if you would be better served driving some type of wagon or crossover, as compared to a true body on frame truck based SUV, in light of the safety issue and other drawbacks associated with a real SUV, such as inferior handling and higher fuel consumption.

Towing is one possible reason a person would need a real truck even if you do not go offroad, but if you tow on a regular basis, you probably would be better off with a larger vehicle than a compact SUV like the Xterra. And believe me (spoken from experience from earlier vehicles) you may tell yourself you do not need 4wd, but it is very, very, very, very, very easy to get stuck in a rear wheel drive only truck. Again, even if you are looking only for light off road or incliment weather needs, you may be better off with an AWD (or even FWD only) crossover than a 2wd truck.

Don't get me wrong, I am no anti SUV person or green party tree hugger, but I think we would all be better off if people who did not need real SUVs did not drive them. Your choice of vehicle should be more than a fashion accessory.

Hmm didn't really consider the roll over factor. The main reason I'm looking into compact trucks and a suv is the ride height. Like a posted before I'm looking for something that wold give me a good view of the road ahead of me.

Since I drive a crx in southern california, the land of full size trucks and SUVs, I was looking for a truck or suv in the mid to low 20s that offered a v6 engine to replace my car next year. It's scary trying to merge into the freeway with semis and full size trucks/SUVs barreling down on you in a 4 cylinder crx. If there weren't so many large trucks/SUVs on the road, I would never consider buying one. My way of thinking is that if one of these vehicles hits and kills me, I'm making damn sure I'm taking them with me.

I was looking into a Toyota, Honda, or Nissan truck/SUV. The xterra fit that bill. However, I'm still considering the new '05 Frontiers and Tacomas as well. I was considering a number of crossovers, but they're either too much money or lacking a v6. My main concerns about buying a vehicle is price, passenger comfort, reliability and gas; since I'm planning to hold onto this vehicle for a long time.

Exact same thing. The high rider 2wd pickups (Pre Runners, Desert Runners, Frontier Crew Cabs, Ranger Edges, Mazda Dual Sports) have a higher center of gravity than a similar raised 4wd pickup. Same issue, a couple of hundred pounds of metal at the bottom of the vehicle will provide some stabilizing influence.

But, compact trucks with raised ride height and 4wd are still very prone to rolling over. That is an issue I think about every time I drive my 4wd Mazda B4000 on the highway, and hopefully it makes me a more careful and aware driver. Its also the reason we bought a Subaru Forester to replace an Isuzu Rodeo, as I figured that while the AWD capability is nice (we have a place in the north Georgia Mountains) we did not need two real trucks.

I've already decided that my next 4wd will have stability control (to help prevent rollovers) and side curtain airbags (to help survive a rollover). But if you do not need a 4wd with off road capability, you need to ask yourself if you really need a tall vehicle. As an aside, I wondered where Mazda got the name Dual Sport. Here you have a vehicle with reduced handling as compared to a lower riding 2wd truck, that you still cannot take in the mud. Maybe it should have been No Sport!

Thanks for the information. I have been trying to find out more details about the 05 Xterra but most of the information is all the same. Any ideas on color offerings (Black is the only color I find on any pictures) or base price?I have an 03 with about 13000 miles that I really love but have been enticed with the new look and extra room I have been reading about. Do you have any links to other info?

Don't rule out buying one a couple years old and buying some new clear jewell headlights on e-bay for $60/pr, maybe add leather and some new floormats (xterraparts.com) and some new tires. Top that iff with a Nissan extended 7/100 warranty, and throw some foggers on the roof for some character, and you've done it on the cheap!

Can anyone confirm whether or not the 2005 Xterra will require premium unleaded? Nissan has been requiring premium on more and more models lately. At this point, all implementations of the 3.5L V6 (from which the Xterra's new 4.0L engine is derived) require premium. I know the current SC Xterra requires premium, but I figure the supercharger might have something to do with that.

My hope is that Nissan will wake up and realize that people do not want to pay for premium in a truck or SUV. The cost of fueling them is already high enough. The new engine is used across the new Frontier, Xterra, and Pathfinder, so it would be a major shock to a lot of shoppers (is there a single truck in the USA that requires premium?).

Anyway, I test drove a Liberty, and today went off-roading for the first time since childhood with some Rubicon-owning coworkers. It was really fun, so the Xterra is on my list, and the CR-V and Escape are off. (They wouldn't have survived today.)

Tonka9764, it looks like you have "done it on the cheap" as all you have an old X-Terra, nothing more, and getting a little long in the tooth as it will be two body styles old come next year. The foggers on the roof don't add character, they add wind noise!

Yes, regular unleaded is fine. It is what I put in my 2003 Maxima. The cheapest I can find, lol.

Does anybody know if the 2005 X-Terra has stability control?

Roll-over is one of the reasons I bought my Maxima and as far as I am concerned I got the best body style Maxima ever made and in Black too! I can't stand the front end on the new Maxima and I think the front end on the Murano is hideous. Anyway, most of my friends tell my I will roll an SUV coming into the apartment complex or on an on-ramp onto the freeway as aggressive as I drive so I am worried about getting an SUV, but I love the new X-Terra.

Hey, thanks for the advice on the weight of a 4X4 helping to prevent roll-over by lowering the center of gravity. The weight difference on a 2004 4X4 is a whopping 460 pounds which is quite a lot. More than I thought and all down low in the drive train.

I will take a little wind noise as a trade off for the capability of lighting a whole campsite when pitching tents etc.

Not everyone can afford a new vehicle, and who is to say that a few people (obviously not as brilliant as you) might prefer an older body style? Like, say a year old Maxima for instance. You can get a 2003 Maxima on the cheap too, as it is getting a "bit long in the tooth" as you put it.

My comments were not to show off my vehicle, just to show other Edmund's users that paying if $30K for a new Xterra does not fit a budget, maybe sprucing up one that is a few years old, getting a 7/100K factory warranty might get them into a vehicle they desire. I'd like a brand new one too. It is a better vehicle, more power, slicker interior etc. But I wouldn't trade my "01 Xterra AND pay $15K on top of it to get one.

If you go to nissanusa.com and look under one of the headings (vehicle, I think)and click on future vehicles you can build your 05 Xterra. It even gives you pricing but the site tells you prices are subject to be higher or lower.Looks like they will offer one new color - night armor, looks like a very dark gray. Canteen, solar yellow, avalanche, black, silver, the red seems to be different and granite. Starting at $21,000 for the S model, starting at $24000 for the Off-road model and starting at $26,000 for the SE model.